THE latest Citroen C3 is a stylish supermini featuring a new range of petrol engines guaranteed to bring a smile to any self-respecting purse or wallet.

The exterior is sassy benefiting from plenty of French chic with the VTR+ model featuring the panoramic Zenith windscreen which extends back over the driver's head.

It is a nice touch that lets plenty of light into the cabin while giving the car a modern feel.

This is aided and abetted by a dynamic front end featuring a new chrome grille surrounding the Citroen chevrons as well as daytime running lights.

The cabin is similarly well-appointed using decent materials and polished panels on the dashboard that gives the interior a luxury feel.

Life behind the steering wheel is eased by a decent driving position which is easy to achieve thanks to a fully adjustable seat and sculpted steering wheel.

This combined with fingertip controls and digital dial are all designed to make the driver feel the star of the show.

The air vents, instrument clusters and multi-function screen have nice touches that engender the feelgood factor but the seats could offer more support.

The C3 has efficient sound-proofing preventing wind and road noise reaching the ears of occupants even at motorway speeds.

There's more than enough room for five adults and the boot is a healthy size offering 300 litres of load space while the rear seats also fold down when required.

Safety systems include six airbags, a retractable steering column in the event of a front-end collision, an impact absorbing structure and a host of electronic aids to help avoid accidents in the first place.

Everything about this supermini suggests speed - but if you're looking for a hot rod I would suggest you look elsewhere as a 0-62mph time in excess of 14 seconds is pedestrian.

Instead this C3 achieves its first-class honours degree in fuel economy as it benefits from Citroen's new range of PureTech three-cylinder power units which are smaller, lighter, more efficient and far cleaner than the engine they replace.

There are two versions to choose from - a 1.0-litre and the 1.2-litre under the bonnet of the car I drove - with power ranging from 68bhp to 82bhp.

They may be a bit slow off the mark but with average fuel consumption between 61.4 miles per gallon and 65.7mpg there will be few complaints from the bank balance.

Citroen have also ensured the C3 earns top marks for comfort so the many humps and hollows littering the roads are dealt with easily without troubling driver or passengers.

There's a decent amount of grip and the steering is incredibly light. This is great when manoeuvring into tight parking spots but doesn't give much feedback on the road.

The C3 starts with the VT model which is fitted with a radio/CD player and electric front windows. The VTR+ version adds alloy wheels, cruise control and air conditioning while the flagship Exclusive cars also include interior mood lighting, climate control and rear electric windows.